"Although I do not wish to, I must admit that what Elder Tai has said is not wrong. Whether he truly covets the three overlords of the Ancient Clan or not, for the sake of the Great Dao, in this situation, he has made the choice he should make."
These were the words of Changfeng Great Emperor. Clearly, he thought the same as Thousand Leaves Immortal King.
This surprised Thousand Leaves Immortal King greatly, and he hurriedly asked, "So, you would also act to support Elder Tai?"
Changfeng Great Emperor shook his head without the slightest hesitation, stating bluntly, "No."
"What!"
Thousand Leaves Immortal King was shocked and even more unable to understand. He asked, "Since you also believe what Elder Tai said is not wrong, why won't you act? Could it be you do not wish to protect the Great Dao?"
"I only said his words are not wrong. Not being wrong does not mean they are right. At the very least, I do not believe they are right."
Changfeng Great Emperor said with a furrowed brow, "This calamity was never a matter of black and white from the very beginning, nor is there right or wrong."
Thousand Leaves Immortal King did not understand, and Changfeng Great Emperor did not offer further explanation.
Within the arena.
Although many Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs from the various cave heavens and blessed lands had stepped forward to support the Xuantian Immortal Path, there were still quite a few Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs who had not responded, choosing instead to continue observing.
Even though the Xuantian Immortal Path side had Taiji Boundless, an existence hailed as the greatest prodigy across ancient and modern times, as well as the Xuantian Nine Immortals, known as the nine great mountains of the immortal path, along with the two immortal elders, Taixuan and Taimiao, upon the Mysterious Flower, and the Mysterious Old Immortal Elder.
And many Great Dao Mandates from the various cave heavens and blessed lands had also expressed their support.
However.
That was all.
After all, the Nine Sons of Heaven of the Heavenly Dao and the Nine Saint Sons of the Sacred Dao had yet to declare their stance.
The Eight Sects of Buddhism also chose silence.
The four Destined Calamity Fates—Floating Life Imperial Lord, Changfeng Great Emperor, Mysterious Sun Emperor, and Peacock Great Emperor—had also not declared their positions.
This calamity was not a matter where greater numbers meant greater power.
Many Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs understood that what truly decided the outcome of this calamity was neither them, the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs, nor the various Great Dao Mandates, but the Destined Calamity Fates.
Now that the Nine Sons of Heaven of the Heavenly Dao, the Nine Saint Sons of the Sacred Land, and the four Destined Calamity Fates including Floating Life Imperial Lord had not declared their stances, those Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs naturally dared not make decisions lightly. Even though Taiji Boundless's existence was the legendary Dual Polar Yin-Yang, Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious, Fate Unpredictable, and even though everyone believed Taiji Boundless might be the only existence within the arena capable of rivaling the You Di, they still felt that one Taiji Boundless could not represent all the Destined Calamity Fates, much less decide the outcome of this calamity.
If not for this, Elder Tai of Xuantian would not have called upon the various cave heavens and blessed lands to lend their aid.
Elder Tai clearly understood what the remaining Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs were observing and why they were observing. At this moment, he looked toward the many Buddhas of the Eight Sects of Buddhism upon the Tathagata Buddha Pagoda, cupping his hands and saying, "Venerable High Monks, in this unknown calamity, we can no longer continue to stand by and watch. Standing by is akin to waiting for death. Only by turning passivity into initiative can we see through the confusing situation. This calamity concerns the life and death of the Great Dao and all living beings. I implore you, for the sake of all living beings and for the Great Dao, to hesitate no longer."
"Amitabha."
A vast Buddhist chant echoed forth, coming precisely from the White-Browed Saint Monk.
The White-Browed Saint Monk sat upon the Tathagata Buddha Pagoda, hands clasped together, responding, "For the Great Dao, Elder Tai has made the most correct choice. Rest assured, this old monk, along with all Bodhisattvas and Arhats of the Western Heaven's Eight Sects of Buddhism, will absolutely not stand idly by. We will certainly lend our full support."
"Good!
Good!
Good!"
Elder Tai of Xuantian was extremely pleased and excited, saying 'good' three times in a row, and cupping his hands, said, "With the full support of the venerable high monks of the Eight Sects of Buddhism, this old man believes we will surely be able to survive this calamity and protect the Great Dao and all living beings!"
The White-Browed Saint Monk not only held extremely high prestige within the Western Heaven Buddhist Dao but also possessed immense prestige throughout the vast heavens and myriad realms of the Great Wilderness. After he spoke, declaring he would lend full support, many of the observing Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs from the various cave heavens and blessed lands also followed suit in declaring their stances.
Of course.
Merely gaining the support of the Eight Sects of Buddhism was far from enough. Therefore, Elder Tai of Xuantian looked toward the four Destined Calamity Fates—Floating Life Imperial Lord, Changfeng Great Emperor, Peacock Great Emperor, and Mysterious Sun Emperor—cupping his hands and saying, "The four of you are both sovereign emperors who bear the Mandate of Heaven and Destined Calamity Fates who bear the True Mandate. There is no need for this old man to say more; everyone understands how crucial your existence is to the Great Dao. This old man believes that, facing this calamity, the four of you will certainly not stand idly by, much less wait for death."
The first to respond was Mysterious Sun Emperor, who said, "Elder Tai worries too much. When the time comes to act, I, Mysterious Sun, will not hesitate in the slightest."
"Many thanks to Mysterious Sun Emperor for your full support!"
After gaining Mysterious Sun Emperor's support, Elder Tai looked toward the remaining three Destined Calamity Fates. The Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs from the various cave heavens and blessed lands present were also staring at these three. As long as they supported, then the other Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs would have no need to continue observing.
However.
Everyone waited and waited, but a response was long in coming.
None of the three original Destined Calamity Fates—Floating Life Imperial Lord, Changfeng Great Emperor, and Peacock Great Emperor—spoke.
"May I ask what the three of you intend?"
Silence.
Still silence.
Standing beside Changfeng Great Emperor, Thousand Leaves Immortal King was deeply worried, because Changfeng Great Emperor had clearly answered earlier that he would not act to support Elder Tai.
And now, not only was Elder Tai watching, but many Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs within the arena were also watching. If Changfeng Great Emperor bluntly stated he would not offer support, he would inevitably become the target of public criticism.
After this calamity, if the Great Dao were tragically slaughtered, regardless of whether the reason for the slaughter was related to today's actions, Changfeng Great Emperor would be forced to bear the blame and become a sinner of the Great Dao.
Even if the Great Dao were preserved after this calamity, Changfeng Great Emperor would face ostracism because of today's actions. As a Great Dao Mandate, a Destined Calamity Fate, and one who bears the justice of the Azure Heaven, to not act for the Great Dao during the calamity—what kind of justice of the Azure Heaven is that?
For some reason.
Thousand Leaves Immortal King had a feeling that Elder Tai of Xuantian seemed to be employing a tactic of moral coercion. Whether willing or not, one had to support him. If one did not support him, they would be a sinner of the Great Dao.
Just as Thousand Leaves Immortal King was worrying, the voice of Elder Tai of Xuantian came: "Changfeng Great Emperor, what are your thoughts?"
Truly, what one fears comes to pass.
If Elder Tai had first inquired about Floating Life Imperial Lord's intentions, Changfeng Great Emperor could have considered further. But now, Elder Tai had directly targeted Changfeng Great Emperor from the start.
"Changfeng, you are not only an immortal path Great Emperor who bears the Mandate of Heaven but also a Destined Calamity Fate who bears the True Mandate, and even more so, the Lord of the Azure Heaven who bears justice."
Elder Tai's vigorous and powerful voice came: "These Three Thousand Great Daos, these multitudes of living beings, are all waiting for you to uphold justice!"